Top South African agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo and engineers Shaldon Naicker and Gavin Kirstein have been appointed as Nissan’s inaugural Nissan Navara agricultural and industrial brand ambassadors of 2026.

Fresh from exhibiting at Nampo, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural exhibition, Nissan is deeply integrated in the South African agricultural community, built on a local heritage of more than 60 years, an understanding of what it means to work the land, and a range of vehicles engineered to match that dedication.

Sihlobo, who currently serves as Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa and serves on the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, is a published author and is also as a senior lecturer extraordinary at Stellenbosch University.

During Nampo, Sihlobo participated in various panel discussions on the future of South African agriculture and making its voice heard in the national discourse.

Kirstein is a specialist in the power transmission and industrial engineering industries, with strong ties to the agricultural sector. Over the past 15 years, he has held senior roles, managing product portfolios in chains, drives, and engineered transmission solutions used across mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Naicker is the Founder and Managing Director of 1Leaf Consulting and former Vice President of Engineering at Sasol Mining. A mechanical engineer by training, he specialises in underground mining operations, asset management, and operational transformation, Naicker has more than 15 years of leadership experience in Sasol and Rio Tinto.

All three Nissan ambassadors recently took delivery of their new Navara PRO-4X flagship off-road double-cab bakkies. Designed for rough terrain, it pairs a robust 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with a 4x4 drivetrain. Standard off-road features include all-terrain tyres, an electronic rear diff-lock, enhanced suspension for SUV-like driving quality and pick-up levels of durability and off-road capability.

Made and tested with local conditions in mind, the Nissan Navara has the intelligent technology to get down and dirty to get the job done, and it also has a host of luxurious creature comforts, ensuring that occupants feel right at home.

“With the legacy of Nissan’s heritage firmly in place, we are excited to invest in the rising industry leaders of tomorrow,” said Mohamed Abdel Samad, Managing Director of Nissan Africa. “And speaking of the future, with three new model introductions already planned to take place withing the next year, we are excited to continue to bring our local customers the very best of Nissan. Supported by our countrywide dealer network, our customers will always be our guiding priority.”

Nissan South Africa sales director Reichardt Groenewald says, “We are very grateful that Wandile, Shaldon and Gavin agreed to become brand ambassadors for the Navara. This is a vehicle that has proved its worth across the continent and these three business leaders really exemplify some of the key industries that Nissan has supported, and whose growth we have facilitated with our vehicles over the last 60 years in Africa.”

The agricultural and industrial ambassadors have joined South African rugby players Aphelele Fassi and Jordan Hendrikse as Nissan Navara ambassadors, who received the keys to their Navara PRO-4X bakkies at a function in Durban earlier this month.